The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-06-01
FATE AND THE CAPTAIN.


"What is Mrs. Gray trying to start-a
menagerie, reform school, or a gymnasi-
umr inquired Captain Holton, in an in
iured tone. He was trying to thread a
small needle with very coarse thread, and
made an unsuccessful dive at the needle
as he spoke
''No, sir, I reckon not. She's only got
some new boarders from the city, "replied
Mary, putting down the lamp that she
had brought.
"Boardersl Three-fve-six children,
two dogs, and an animal that 1 suppose
they call a pony, Oh, ye powers su-
premel l don't think that this needle
has any eye in it at all.
Let me thread it for you, SIR" said
Mary.
'No, thank you 1 will thread it my
so. The fault is in the needle, and it is
the only one l have. So you say that
caravan has come to stay. What's in
charge of it-father, mother, nurses,
etc. z"
"Mother's invalid, gent comes down
Saturdays. Old maid aunt brought the
young ones down Tor the air. ."
"Six children and an old maid They
say the cholera is on its way here, too.
A year of plaques. Moses in Egypt Mrs.
Gray may find it profitable to run an
orphan asylum for few hot weeks, and
turn out steady boarders who have stood
by her through thick and thin, but when
the winter of her adversely comes she may
be sorry. Humph! l may be called upon
to advise in small matters where loan is
needed, but when it comes to anything
that affects my comfort, am disposed of
without O word. Hear them howl! l
wonder if could get that darning needle
through this buttoni How miserable is
man when his suspender button is off, and
q flock of little demons are running
through his geranium beds. Here, you,
get out of those flowers, l say! Do you
hear me2 Then why don't you do it2"
The devastation OF his flowers was more
than the Captain could stand, so he laid
down needle and thread and substituted a
nail for the missing button, as he had
long since learned to do. After rapid
toilet he hurried down stairs as fast as
his lameness would permit. "I'll tell
that old maid what think of her gov
ernment; infamous cheek, anyhow, to
bring such herd into quiet neighbor-
hood. I'll blow her up, so that she'll
know what she's done"
He bolted, red and wrathful, from the
front door just as Mrs. Gray came upon
the steps with tall, stately young lady,
whose handsome eyes widened with sur
prise at the Captains confusion.
Good evening, Captain, l was Just
going to call you. Allow me: Captain
Holton-Niss Terrell. Twas Just telling
Miss Terrell that if you were down you
would give us some flowers, but didn't
dare to pull them, knowing how particu-
lar you are, said Mrs. Gray"
eyes, l am particular about my flow
ers. Just step this way, Miss-ah-Ter-
rell, and see-the bed is in fearful state
the children-that is"
"Oh, they will be delighted Come,
darlings, the gentleman is going to give
us bouquet. am so glad for their
sakes that there is something of the kind
here, for the little ones are passionately
fond of flowers, the boys particularly,
and it is taste that take great pains to
cultivate. All, thanks How lovely they
are. One doesn't know the beauty of
such things unless he has been shut up in
brick walls. You are too generous, Cap
tain Holton; you will find us trouble
some. Don't cut those splendid roses
You are robbing the bush"
''No matter; you need little more
color in your bouquet; and they will soon
fade on the bush. Don't mention it; it is
a pleasure, assure you"
The evening was so fine that the lady
fingered on the lawn, and the Captains
old-tashioned gallantry would not permit
him to leave until she did, so that he
found himself doing the agreeable for the
first time in many years, beinga bachelor
of the strictest sort.
True, the flow of his conversation wa
interrupted by ball in the chest, he was
tripped by a hat, sat down upon paper
of fishhooks, loaned his knife to dig angle
worms, and finally retired with an over
ripe tomato in his shirt bosom, which was
intended for the imp who lodged behind
him. Miss Terrell whipped out her
handkerchief to brush the tomato off,
explaining that the boys were Just liber-
ated from school, and were wild with
delight at the freedom of the country.
"Ah, it is no matter they will settle
happy, replied the arch-hypocrite, with
a CHASTITY smile, as he turned into the
hall.
"Shame..for that poor girl to be monop-
olized by those little demons" lie
growled, viewing himself in the glass.
''They ought TO be drowned like kittens
when their mother can't manage them,
and then they couldn't torment any other
woman's life out of her"
The following day the Captain thought
he would avoid the terrors of the evening
by calling upor an invalid friend, COM
Tade whose days were numbered Ac-
eoTdingly, he brought out from the city